[terriwagner]

PLEASE pass this on to all horse people, especially in Texas.

Hi Terri,
Last week the lawyer that was working on my case about my horse Glory sent me back my deposit and told me she does not think she can help me. NOW she tells me after almost two years and now it is too late because of the statute of limitations. I am still so hurt over the horrible death she had to endure. So I have decided to spread my story to horse groups and chat lists just so that people know what can happen. The following is the condensed version of my story. If you are on any chat lists perhaps you can cut and past and pass it on. thanks.....rose

Hi Everyone,
I am writing this not about a horse I used to have. She was out of my registered paint mare and a registered TWH. Two years ago April 30, 2006 I took her to a "trainer". A few weeks later she was dead...May 17, 2006. This was an almost 5 year old mare that had all ground work done by me. The "trainer" was to introduce her to a saddle and work with her to the riding point. I had told him I was in no hurry and that if in the month she was to be with him she was not ready for riding then I would look into another month. The "trainer" claimed to be a Parelli trainer (I later found out by contacting Parelli that this guy was never on their books) and promised to take very good care of her. I live in Terrell, TX and he lives in Kaufman, TX, about 20-25 miles away from me. I went to see her the first week and she seemed a little depressed but she had never been away from me so I just thought she was not liking the separation. May 14th that year was Mother's Day. May 17th was the following Wednesday. On the 17th I got a call from my friend who also had her horse with this "trainer" that my horse was dead and that the "trainer" thought she had colic. (She had never had colic in the whole time I had owned her.) Mind you, the "trainer" did NOT call me. I called him then and could not reach him. He finally called me and told me that on May 14th he was working her and that she tried to jump out of the pen he was working her in (pipe fencing) and that she reared up and fell over backwards and also tried to buck him off. He told me he found her in the morning of the 17th dead in the pasture. Mind you now, this was Wednesday evening and I am just finding out. He said he got an autopsy so I called the vet and got a written autopsy report. The mare had extensive bruising from under her neck and up both sides to the withers. She had died of little to no circulation to that part of her body.
This "trainer" never called me to tell me he was having any trouble with her. It is obvious she did not die from falling over backwards. He did not call me until after I called him and that was after an autopsy. It is obvious there is guilt here.
I contacted everyone I could think of for help.....the SPCA, the ASPCA, Parelli, the Paint horse association, and plenty of others. I got no help. Then I contacted a lawyer. She was very helpful and positive that we had a case. I gave her a large deposit so she could get started and she did. Then she seemed to drag her feet and just last week she sent me my deposit back and said she felt she could not do anything.
As you might believe, I have been just sick over this whole thing. Right after it first happened, I could not look at any man dressed as a cowboy such as some men dress here in Texas. I couldn't even watch DVD's of people like Clinton Anderson or Chris Cox because it made me sick. I was depressed for many months and cried a lot. I raised that mare from a baby and had imprinted her and everything. She was easy to handle, just did not know a lot.
Now my two years is just about up and I have no where to go but to tell my story. I am still so sick over this terrible loss and the horrible death she must have suffered. It just seems like in Texas a horse is just livestock and you just loose out when something happens. This is property damage for sure.
I wish I knew where to start to stop this kind of thing from happening or where to get help when something tragic does happen. Now I am asking you to read my story and pass it on. I will never get my mare back but maybe I will have compassion from the horse world. Thanks for listening.....Rose

[karend1205]

That is such a heartbreaking story!! I am sooo sorry for your loss.

[Hunter-Eq Rider]

Wow I am so sorry!! The same exact thing happend to my friends horse Goose, exept for the trainer was using her in lessons when she was lame and she broke her leg.
And she didnt tell my friend until a week later.

Some people are so sick!! :[

Message me, if you ever need someone to talk to, I know how you feel. :"[

[cutter123]

unfortunately, i have heard similar stories. i am so sorry for ur loss.

for other peoples reference, any parelli certified trainer endorsed by the parellies will be listed on their website. always always check references. if u have a doubt call up the trainer who supposedly certified the person and ask.

i wish there was a good way for people to tell which trainer will take care of their horse and who wont. it seems there is no foolproof way

[scorpiobancs]

I feel for you... Hope you can get some help now that it is out in the open. Think positive and keep your chin up!

[MaggieSue]

That is just terrible...have you called PETA?? Perhaps they could help.

[myspookypony]

That is terrible.
Was it your horse?
That is rediculous that no body helps. The 'trainer' is probably still 'helping' horses. What a sick and sad man!